China's Xi to Taiwan: Unification is 'Inevitable'

Chinese President Xi Jinping has declared that unification with Taiwan is an "inevitable historical trend." He made the statement during a high-level meeting in Beijing. The meeting was with a senior Taiwanese opposition leader, Andrew Hsia. It is the first such encounter between a Chinese president and a Taiwanese political figure in over ten years. Hsia is the vice chairman of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party. The KMT officially favors closer ties with China but denies supporting unification by force. The talks come amid increased military and political pressure from China on the island. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.